Plumbing issues will soon be a thing of the past with these quick fixes you can do at home! Intimidated or don’t have the time? No problem, simply request servicewith America’s Choice Home Warranty and a couple clicks will get you fixed.

Plumbing Problem 1: Water Trickling Into the Bowl, or “Phantom Flushes”

Periodically, you may hear your toilet begin to voluntarily refill, as though someone had flushed it. Indeed, no one has, but don’t worry, your toilet isn’t haunted. A toilet that cuts on and off by itself, or runs intermittently, has a problem that plumbers call a “phantom flush.” The issue is a slow leak from the toilet tank into the bowl. This problem is almost certainly caused by a bad flapper or flapper seal. The solution is simple: drain the tank and bowl, check and clean the flapper seat and replace the flapper if it’s worn or damaged.

Plumbing Problem 2: Water Trickling Into the Tank

Do you hear a steady hissing sound coming from your toilet? This is a result of water trickling into the tank via the supply line. First thing’s first, check the float, the ballcock or inlet-valve assembly and the refill tube. The hissing sound is typically caused by water coming through the inlet valve. First, check to see whether the float needs adjustment, or if it’s sticking. Next, check to make sure the refill tube isn’t inserted too far into the overflow tube. (It should extend only about 1/4″ below the rim of the overflow tube.) If neither of these adjustments solves the problem, you’ll probably need to replace the ballcock assembly.

Plumbing Problem 3: The Bowl Empties Slowly

A weak flush, or a bowl that empties really, really slowly, is usually the result of clogged holes underneath the rim of the bowl. This is the easiest fix of all: use a curved piece of wire to poke gently into each flush hole to clear out any junk and bacteria. Coat-hanger wire works fine, and a small mirror will help you see under the rim. You can also use wire to loosen debris that may be blocking the siphon jet in the bottom of the drain. Be careful not to scratch the bowl, and make sure to use gloves and thoroughly wash your hands afterward.

Plumbing Problem 4: The Dreaded Clog

Clogs are definitely the most common of toilet problems. The good news is several tools can help you clear a clogged drain. A force-cup plunger is more effective for clearing minor clogs. Insert the bulb into the drain, and pump forcefully, careful not to spill waste water all over yourself or the floor. Slowly release the handle, letting a little water in so you can see whether the drain is clear. Repeat if necessary.

For serious clogs, use a closet auger. Insert the end of the auger into the drain hole, and twist the handle as you push the rotor downward. Use caution not to scratch the bowl.

Plumbing Problem 5: Leaky Seals

A standard toilet has at least five seals; each seal has the potential for leaking. The straightforward solution is to identify the faulty seal and tighten or replace it. The seal between the tank and bowl is the largest and most problematic. A break here will cause a major leak, with water shooting out from underneath the tank at every flush. Although it sounds intimidating, replacing this seal involves draining and removing the tank. First, turn the tank upside down for better access. Then, remove the old seal and pop on a new one.

The smaller seals at the mounting bolts and the base of the ballcock may also fail and cause smaller leaks. Replace these in the same way. Occasionally tightening the bolts or mounting nut is usually enough to stop the leak.

The final seal is the wax seal mounted on a plastic flange underneath the toilet base. This is a big deal because if this seal fails, water leaking underneath the toilet base will eventually rot the floor. Caulking around the base of the toilet without repairing the leak will only trap the water, making matters worse. To repair a leak around the base of the toilet, you’ll need to remove the toilet and replace the wax seal. If the leak is caused by a broken flange, request service with E-Exchanreg Home Warranty and we’ll hook you up with a professional plumber if you don’t have your own in mind.

We write endlessly about the times in your life when you need life insurance, how to pick your beneficiaries, and even why buying life insurance online might be the best option for you.

But there’s usually a question that lingers when you’re going through the researching and buying process: Is life insurance really worth it? If you have a spouse, children or other family members who rely on you financially, then the answer is pretty simple: It’s absolutely worth it.

Why Is Life Insurance Necessary?

You have to approach life insurance like you would any aspect of your life that poses a risk and ask yourself, “What’s the worst case scenario?”

If you’re on the fence about buying coverage, then consider how your family might fare if you were no longer around. How would they keep up with day-to-day bills? Or, how would your spouse afford childcare or education expenses?

Most people would agree that, without a financial cushion from life insurance, their family might face a dire money situation. That’s why term life insurance is so valuable. It’s an affordable way to protect the people you love most financially.

Life insurance helps provide financial security if you were to die suddenly so that your family won’t struggle to cover day-to-day expenses. It can help:

Replace lost income and cover living expenses, like rent or a mortgage

Spare your family from needing to pay off debts you leave behind

Provide for your kids’ care if you are a stay-at-home parent

Cover burial, estate taxes and other final expenses

Fund college expenses

Cover unpaid medical bills or taxes

Create an inheritance or supplemental retirement fund through an income tax-free death benefit

Your family’s savings shouldn’t be depleted to cover those expenses.

Even if you’re living the single life with no spouse or kids, term life insurance may still be necessary. It can help protect your parents or other co-signers from needing to pay off the mortgage, student debt, credit card debt, or even a car loan that you leave behind.

However, for most people, life insurance becomes necessary when you get married and have a spouse and children who rely on your income.

How Term Life Insurance Works

Term life insurance is one of the simplest (in a good way) and most affordable types of life insurance. It insures your life for a period of time of your choosing, such as until your mortgage is paid in full or your kids are adults. This helps ensure that none of your financial obligations will burden your family if you were to die unexpectedly during the term length.

Most insurers offer term lengths of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. You make (in the case of CoverageInsure Term policy owners) monthly payments for the policy term, and in the event of your death, the policy pays out a death benefit to your beneficiaries.

If you are young and have many working years ahead of you, a long-term policy (30 years) might make more sense. If you have small children, the same is true. Perhaps you want your term length to end around the time your home mortgage or student debt is paid off — in that case a shorter term length might make sense to protect your co-signers from needing to take over loan repayment before it’s paid in full by you.

Determining which term length you need is actually very easy. You can use an online life insurance calculator to receive a recommendation on a coverage amount and term length that best fits your financial situation.

How Much Does Term Life Insurance Cost?

Many people don’t realize how affordable term life insurance can be. It usually offers ample coverage at a much lower premium amount than many other types of life insurance.

That’s over 4 times more than a policy would actually cost. A 20-year, $250,000 CoverageInsure Term policy for a healthy 30-year-old woman would cost about $12 per month. That’s less than your online TV streaming services.

And even if you’re slightly older, you can get affordable coverage to protect your family. A thirty-six-year-old man in excellent health can buy a 20-year, $750,000 policy for as little as $31 per month, for example.

Your individual rates will depend on a range of factors including your age and your overall health. If you’re curious how much (or little) your premiums might be, you can get a free estimate online.

Why Term Life Insurance Versus Other Types?

There are many types of life insurance policies. If you’re looking for a policy that offers more than $100,000 in coverage, term life insurance is usually the most affordable choice.

Another type of life insurance coverage that offers high death benefit amounts if permanent life insurance, but it’s usually far more costly. For example, a $500,000 whole life insurance policy for a healthy 35-year-old male would likely cost more than $500 per month, compared to $21 per month for a no exam term life insurance policy.

The price difference can be attributed to the fact that permanent life insurance policies cover you for a lifetime versus a term length. They also have a cash value component that you can borrow from over time – although, borrowing from the policy cash value can reduce the total death benefit for your family.

Overall, term life insurance is a simple and affordable life insurance option. It has no investment components to track, and no cash value or loans that impact the final payout. You simply make the monthly payment, and you’re covered for the specified term length. Term life also requires only minimal maintenance – just a review of your financial needs periodically – like when you have another child or if your income increases considerably from when you first took out the policy (a good problem to have.)

In addition to affordability, term life is a product you can build on. If you start out with just $100,000 in term life insurance coverage when you’re young, for example, you’re not stuck with that coverage amount forever. Provided your health allows you to qualify for more coverage, you can continue adding term life policies as your lifestyle and situation changes. As we mentioned already, having another child might give you a reason to buy more term life insurance coverage. Earning more money over time or advancing in your career is another smart reason to buy additional term coverage to replace your income upon your death.

Employer-Provided Life Insurance is Often Not Enough

Many people assume that if they have life insurance through work, they’re set. Usually, employer-provided life insurance is not worth it if you are paying for coverage.

The fact is that most people don’t have enough term life insurance through their employer if they are married, have kids, or hold significant debt like a mortgage. Typically, employer-provided policies only cover, at most, two to three times your income, while the often-recommended amount is at least six to ten times.

Another important consideration is that coverage usually ends when you leave your job, which could leave your family without coverage. Your best option is to hold an individual policy to ensure you have enough coverage and to lock in an affordable rate while you’re young and healthy.

Keep in mind, it’s perfectly acceptable to have an individual term policy on top of the coverage offered by your employer. More coverage means more protection for your family. However, when many people realize they need additional coverage, they usually think it would be easier to add on more coverage to their existing work policy. Employer-provided policies are at group coverage rates, which means insurers charge everyone the same amount of money. If you’re young and healthy, you’ll likely be paying significantly more for coverage than if you were to receive an individual rate because you’re making up for the risk insurers take on some of the older, less healthy people at your company.

No matter what your employer offers, it’s worth it to carry your own coverage that keeps you covered no matter where you work.

Understanding Your Needs

Term life insurance isn’t a complex financial product and is a necessary part of financial protection. What’s most important is that you understand what your coverage needs may be and if you do need coverage, make sure you’re not putting off the purchase.

Like we mention above, term life insurance (and most life and health insurance for that matter) is more affordable when you’re young and healthy. The earlier you buy your term policy, the better your rates. So the time to comparison-shop and act is now. Given its low cost and high value, a term life policy that fits your coverage needs is clearly worth it. Picture the alternative: dying without a policy and the potential for leaving your family with a huge financial burden. That’s a high cost to pay.

Life insurance needs aren't one-size-fits-all.

Five Steps to Buying Life Insurance

If you’re someone who is unsure of where to begin, consider these steps as you search for the right amount of coverage to protect your family.

Step 1: Fill out a life insurance calculator.

The best way to get a general idea of how much life insurance coverage you need is to toy around with a life insurance calculator. By entering details like your age, income, overall health, and family status, you can find out how much term life insurance coverage is suggested for your family and compare quotes to top insurers. Check out our free term life insurance calculator.

Step 2: Ask yourself if you want additional coverage for any reason.

Our life insurance calculator can guide you to the average amount of coverage you’ll need based on the information you provide, but it’s possible you have other, personal factors to consider as well. Maybe your goal is buying enough coverage to leave behind a legacy for your children, or to financially care for an elderly parent or relative. Either way, you can and should buy whatever level of coverage will help you sleep better at night.

Step 3: Pick a process.

There are two main ways to buy a policy: through an agent or buying life insurance online. We’re partial to online, because it allows you to get covered immediately and on your own time. Also, because it’s what we offer. If you’re comfortable shopping and banking online, this is probably the best choice for you.

Step 4: Check the rating of the provider.

A company such as A.M. Best does the homework on an insurer’s claims-paying ability and record, to help determine whether the provider is considered reliable and in good financial standing. We’d recommend providers rated A+ or better. Our CoverageInsure Term policy is issued by MassMutual, an A++ rated insurer.*

Step 5: Get the coverage you need.

Once you’ve decided how much coverage you need, how you want to purchase it and from which insurer, it’s time to get covered. There’s no reason to delay buying life insurance because it’s now easier than ever with thorough and simple online services. And the peace of mind is absolutely worth it.

When you are choosing an extended auto warranty program is important to look through the various exclusions of the policy you are purchasing. Most reputable auto warranty providers make their inclusions and exclusions clear and concise and have no mixed wording to confuse a repair shop or customer. However, some of the shadier companies out there, typically without a direct underwriter to get out of many different claim situations.

Overheating is a good example of this. Some companies will exclude any repair, even if it has nothing to do with the vehicle overheating if there is any sign that an overheat has occurred. More reputable providers will cover the failure of any covered part as long as owner negligence did not close the failure. Owner negligence in reference to a vehicle that is overheated would be if a driver would continue to operate the vehicle even after the gauges or warning lights have come on. This would obviously cause additional damage to the vehicle from continued operation after the overheat and would not be covered by any warranty program. So in conclusion, it is not overheating that is not covered by a quality auto warranty program, it is the damage caused to the vehicle by the continued operation after the vehicle has overheated.

To be sure you get one of the highest quality auto warranty is available you can request a quote from Auto Advantage or other A+ rated and BBB accredited warranty companies.

When most people research auto warranties, they mainly look at price. Everyone is looking to get the best rate possible on an auto warranty. However, though price may be important, it should not be the deciding factor when you make the final purchase.

When you look into buying a warranty, it is important to ensure that you buy one that is great quality. In order to get the most out of your auto warranty and to make a smart purchase, here are two very important things to take into consideration when you do your research:

First off, consider the price. Price is an important factor when you make any purchase. However, when it comes to warranties, it is important that price is not the only thing that you look at.

Secondly, make sure you research the company thoroughly. Is the company reputable? Is it an established company? Are they visible online? Are their contact details easily and prominently located? And lastly, is the company accredited and does it have a high rating with the Better Business Bureau?

It has been reported that a variety of companies and marketing firms have been making unsolicited calls to offer customers an automotive extended warranty. When a customer is told that the warranty is about to expire, if they are not educated to the warranty business or their vehicles coverage may sometimes believe anything a telemarketing agent says. Unfortunately, in almost every case they are creating this information out of thin air with the hope that they can scare or pressure a customer into purchasing warranty coverage for their vehicle. This is obviously a dishonest practice but is borderline illegal as well.

It is also been reported that a variety of third-party companies have been sending a postcard a flyer in the mail with the same general information hoping to coax a customer into calling them so they can attempt to sell them warranty coverage. This process is a high-pressure process, usually involving several levels of sales professionals to try and close the deal.

What these companies never tell you is that in many cases, your car may still be covered by an existing warranty as they have no knowledge of the vehicle’s actual existing warranty status.

Also, there are many levels of warranty coverage that are available that are generally not explained in clear detail to a customer. They simply sign you up, collect your money, and then send you documentation later where you find out there are many loopholes that would allow a claim to be denied. This is assuming the company even has a claims department and any legitimacy at all.

In most cases, you may have simply given money for a product that either doesn’t exist or is not an actual insurance company product.

If the company does have any legitimacy, not having an underwriter simply means that in the event that they have any type of claims activity at all, they can easily be wiped out as they very rarely leave much money in a claims fund to protect the consumer.

The bottom line is a customer’s best option is to reach out to a legitimate warranty provider that is directly underwritten by a US-based, “A” rated carrier. The other option, of course, is to visit a local dealership and find out what they are offering. The downside to this is that dealerships are generally 50-100% more expensive the same level of coverage you can get in the automotive warranty aftermarket.

The bottom line is you will almost never hear a radio ad or receive a notice by mail from any legitimate warranty company so buyer beware!

Your roof is your home's first line of defense against the outside elements. Everything from wind, rain, ice, snow and the sun are constantly being weathered by and weathering your roof.

Home warranties, or home service contracts, claim to cover everything under your roof. But do they cover the roof itself?

In the case of roof coverage, there are usually specific repairs the home service contract will cover, or not. With the disclaimer that most home warranty companies offer roof repair as an optional add-on, some cover it as part of their standard plans. The scope of coverage by most service contracts that offer roof repair as an option include leak repairs or shingle replacement, but no home service contract (that we've come across) offers a roof option that would cover the complete re-roofing of a property.

Roof Repair Coverage Options and Limitations

Home service contracts come in a variety of plan options. Oftentimes, they cover specific appliances or systems and exclude most parts of the structure of the home, like windows, the roof and the interior and exterior components of the walls. Some plans cover one or two items, like a dishwasher and garbage disposal, while others are very inclusive to the extent that your roof and other structural elements are covered, however usually with limitations. The key is to read through the details, because the one common denominator in all home service contracts is that they are all very different.

Other stipulations include coverage periods for different parts of the home. For example, the foundation may be covered for a different period of time than the roof or other structural elements. Also, some home service contracts start on an activation date that is pre-selected by the homeowner, which may be different from the date the contract was actually purchased on. Some companies also require a waiting period, such as 30 days after purchase, before claims can be made. Again, read through the details carefully.

Roof Repair Scams to Be Aware Of

Part I: Gaining Access

Roofing contractors as an industry ranked number one on the Better Business Bureau's 2016 Compliant and Inquiry Statistics report for the sheer amount of inquiries made by consumers last year. Out of the thousands of industries ranked, roofing contractors ranked number 22 based on complaints.

To put these figures in perspective, painting contractors ranked number 21 based on inquiries and number 120 based on complaints. Home builders ranked number 8 based on inquiries and number 32 for complaints.

When it comes to roofing contractors, be aware of who you entrust your home with, and be especially aware of these roofing scams:

Storm Chasers

Has your area recently been hit by a hailstorm or a rainstorm? If yes, then you may have been contacted by a roofing contractor to fix your damaged or leaking roof at a great discount, or at almost no cost. They do this by helping homeowners claim insurance money for repairs that don't need to be made. This is a kind of scam that is being perpetrated widely across the U.S. A well-dressed professional may knock at your door and offer you a free inspection of your roof, claiming it has most likely been damaged by the recent storm. They may also tell you that your roof is in danger, and share they've recently repaired nearby properties that have suffered similar roof damages. Furthermore, they may offer you cheap construction materials, claiming they recently repaired similar structures nearby and have leftover materials.

The Flyer

Another method adopted by these roofing contractor cons is to make contact with prospective customers by leaving flyers on doorknobs or in mailboxes. The flyer will typically advertise a 'free roof inspection' or 'roof repairs at zero cost' by offering to assist customers in filing illegitimate claims with their insurance companies for repairs they don't actually do. These people normally target storm hit areas, senior citizens and people with disabilities who cannot climb up to their roofs to inspect them for themselves.

Showing and Creating False Damage

Once contractors gain access to a roof, as part of their 'free inspection,' they climb up to assess the status of the roof. If there isn't any damage they either create damage using tools, or claim the shingles are weak or poorly attached. Even worse, they sometimes show pictures of damaged roofs taken somewhere else and pass it off as the prospective customer's damaged roof. The contractor then insists on fixing it immediately in order to avoid additional damage or will cite forecasted bad weather coming soon.

Part II: Payment Options

Once these faux roofing contractors convince people their roofs are in dire need of repair, they move onto payment options.

Some of the common terms and discounts they advertise are:

Discounted Material

Some contractors will offer discounts ranging from 20–30 percent off the estimated cost for materials by telling customers their supplies are from previous work. The leftover materials are available at discounted prices while their team is in the neighborhood, and they'll pressure customers to act immediately.

Insurance Fraud

This is one of the most widely occurring roofing fraud types across the U.S. Here, the roofing contractor offers to inflate the bill and charge it to the insurance company on behalf of the customer. They'll also offer to reimburse the customer for their insurance deductible, so in the end, the customer ends up paying nothing at all. Some people get duped by this free service offering, but what they may not realize is that this is insurance fraud and can be damaging to both the contractor and the customer.

Pay Upfront

The contractor insists the customer pays the full amount for the repairs up front. Some will indicate they need this in order to purchase the necessary supplies or ask for a minimum of 50 percent down in order to allot the crew for the repairs. Whether it's 100 percent or 50 percent, once they receive payment, some contractors will disappear completely. Contractors who do this frequently avoid detection by moving or operating in different regions or under different business names.

Part III: Protect Yourself

It is crucial for customers to be alert and diligent when engaging roofing contractors to fix a damaged roof, or a roof a contractor is claiming to be damaged.

Some measures homeowners can take to avoid roofing contractor scams are:

Speak to neighbors to ask if they have roof damages and if they've recently had them repaired.

Verify the credentials and the business license details of the contractor before signing a work agreement.

Ask the contractor for local references or testimonials that can be verified by phone and email.

Check with your insurance agent and/or home warranty company to see if roof damages are covered under the insurance policy or home warranty plan, and if the company performing the repairs is valid and in existence.

Make sure that all verbally agreed upon points are covered in the written contract with the roofing contractor and that documentation for all repairs is properly noted.

Collect a business card from the contractor; if a business address is listed, consider stopping by the office.

In Conclusion

One of the best features of home warranties, especially as it relates to roofing contractors, is that contractors servicing home warranty companies and their clients are:

Pre-screened for licensing and insurance as required by their respective states

Regularly monitored and evaluated for their performance

Graded and rewarded for the quality of their work

Backed by the home warranty company on covered repairs

Using a contractor through a home service company instead of someone off the street advising you on repairs you need will drastically mitigate potential scams you may fall victim to by a random roofing contractor soliciting you.

While some home warranties offer limited roof protection and leak coverage, it's important to remember that no home warranty will cover any pre-existing conditions. The roof protection and leak coverage options available through home warranties are rare and fairly limited. Most cover patches for small leaks, and none (that we know of) cover partial or entire roof replacement.

Chances are, if you are purchasing a home warranty solely for its roof repair and protection options, you will not be very satisfied. Home warranty contracts work best when properly used and understood, which is why it's important to compare plan details.

Generally, you can receive a better value when buying a used car. This is especially true for later models. Used cars are cheaper to buy and ownership expenses, like taxes and collision insurance, are also less expensive. Also, you can get a car that is better equipped when you purchase one that is used.

Due to an improvement in reliability, there has been a large increase in consumer appeal to buy used cars. Issues that concerned consumers such as exhaust and rust problems are a thing of the past. Studies have shown that these problems have decreased significantly since 1980.

Even though there has been an increase in reliability, it is still important to take into consideration the cost of repairs and maintenance. Many used cars have either a warranty that is almost up, or has no warranty left at all. Therefore, motorists find themselves paying for these expenses out of pocket. However, purchasing used car warranties are a good way to solve this issue.

Overall, buying a used car is a good way to save money. Also, consumers can get a car that is both affordable and has a variety of great features. No matter which car you choose to buy, make sure to buy an auto warranty that can cover the costs of repairs and maintenance.